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While setting up my latest post, I found a few fantastic versions of one of The Temptations’ hits.

Happy Friday. 🙂

Don’t you?

I joined Luvvie’s 31 Write Now challenge a few days ago. After yesterday’s post I decided to exhale. After all. It’s Friday.

*ahem* 😉

I’ve never seen Sons of Anarchy. But this video confirmed it…

I need SoA in my life. ASAP. Sesame Street parodies rule.

And here’s something for those who want to brush up on their classics.

What do you get when you combine slang (including random bleeped-out words), comedy, and literature? Thug Notes!

When I was younger, I read Jane Eyre twice. For fun. Sparky Sweets’ analysis slayed me. All I remember is thinking that Rochester was a pig for not telling Jane the truth.

HT – The Huffington Post

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Stacia wrote this poetic and poignant post.

I honestly don’t know what to say. Although I’ve been upset, all along, something has kept my soul from making an absolute connection to the anguish that others have expressed.

In all honesty, to me, the end of this trial felt more like a cliffhanger than a conclusion.
On Saturday night, I felt that a just outcome was still possible.

Since then, my hope has been emboldened by the news that the United States Justice Department is going to review the proceedings.

In the meantime, if you would like to make a donation, you can visit the following sites:
Trayvon Martin Foundation

HopeMob’s Trayvon Martin page

Justice for Trayvon Martin Foundation

So on the 25th and 26th, THIS is happening:

Screenshot Source

I think a friend of mine is going to attend with her gorgeous dog, Lily. I, for one, have taken the plunge and have launched a virtual campaign. I’ve only got a few days, but I figure every little bit is worth it.

The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals needs donations. As their site says, the OSPCA is

one of the largest, most responsive animal welfare organizations in the country, providing care and shelter for tens of thousands of animals every year.

Yet they don’t receive funding for some of their most critical services.

If you can help me help them, my fundraising page is right over HERE.

Here, in my hometown.

I’ve thought nothing of it. I have natural hermit-like tendencies.

Yet today, knowing what’s taking place in Boston, I feel guilty. Those people can’t leave their homes. They’re not allowed. All because of a terrorist threat.

May I never take going outside for granted again.

This weekend at Spur–a festival “of politics, arts, and ideas”–a vital question will be discussed.

My Response:

At first it may seem that labeling something as “Canadian” can determine its destiny. But the true test lies in the innovator’s perception of what it means to be Canadian, as well as consumers’ reactions to his or her product. In my opinion, one must consider deeper questions about our cultural identity: How well do we know ourselves? How much faith do we have in our national destiny?

In my youth when I crossed the border I encountered myths about where I was from. During one visit to America, I was met with jokes about igloos and questions about endless snow. In my 20s while working at a call centre, one client wanted to know why I didn’t have an accent like Céline Dion.

People’s perception of your nationality can color the vision that you have of your country. You know that the lies people choose to believe aren’t true. Yet they grate on your nerves. Hence, it can be all too easy to cling to the notion that for when something is “Canadian”—not merely by label, but by fact—it is odd, inferior, foreign, and campy. It can be easy to grow pessimistic about where you come from and everything that is created there. You bend so that you may cling to what is whispered instead of teaching yourself to roar.

Last year in an interview in The National Post, Rudyard Griffiths stated that “Through the 1950s…into the 1980s there were three pillars of Canadian identity: peacekeeping, healthcare, and the threat of Quebec separation.” Immediately after this statement Mr. Griffiths declares his belief that our citizens’ interests extend beyond those issues.

Because my interests lie outside of the political arena, I can attest to the fact that in the quest to discover our national identity, our young people want pillars of success that stem beyond that trinity. In avenues such as technology and the arts, we are tired of being bested by other nations.

We want visibility and influence. And we want them to come at the hand of achievements that are distinctly our own.

Many of us have had more than enough of our neighbours’ innovations shoved in our faces. Hence, one might think that this would inspire our leaders to do better and make resources available for tomorrow’s captains of industry.

Meanwhile, when progress is made, we must be careful not to undermine our success by lashing out at our competitors. Doing so only leaves us sounding like an immature brat, left pouting on an international playground.

Speaking of which, I am always curious when a news story appears concerning how we are perceived as a nation. We seem to mind what others say about us. But really—should we? What do others have to say about us, the Canadians? And when they say something, what do we hear? Better yet…(Why) should we care? In my opinion, Canadians should be aware, yet not become overly invested in others’ expectations. I fear our reputation as polite peacemakers leads to others believing we are passive.

Yet a fear is only as powerful as the amount of faith people have in it. My concern, however, is that many Canadians believe our role as a nation is to remain modest—allowing others to obtain praise for their progressiveness while we take a backseat.

Consider the recent news regarding the Conference Board of Canada’s report on our “lack of innovation” .

Consider the Conference Board of Canada’s recent report on our lack of innovation. In comparison with other countries, our performance is abysmal. From what I gathered, although the ability to perform well in areas such as scientific research exists, the amount of funding available to support such initiatives is limited.

Our nation’s reluctance to spend in areas where citizens are attempting to make progress sends a disappointing message. Especially when contrasted with treatment received by our neighbours. If people know less funding is available to support their ingenuity, they may (rightly) believe there are fewer opportunities available here. I believe this ultimately results in a loss of faith in our potential as a nation. Hence, future innovators may be reluctant to invest their time or talent in a country where even its resources seem engineered to embrace doubt.

When I was younger, some called the phenomenon of Canadians leaving to make it big elsewhere “Brain Drain”. Now, perhaps they ought to merely call it common sense.

Ultimately, I believe that labeling something as Canadian has the ability to build our society. That is, so long as the visions of our people are given the resources needed to change for the better.

Endnotes:
Carlson, Katheryn Blaze, “Year in Ideas: How Canadian identity has changed and what it means for our future” http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/12/28/year-in-ideas-how-canadian-identity-has-changed-and-what-it-means-for-our-future/, Retrieved April 8, 2013

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Those aren’t my teeth, by the way. 😉

Remember when I wrote about my wisdom teeth? I said I wanted them out during exam time or over the holidays.

Well, that didn’t happen.

I’m getting them out later this week.

I have scared myself out of my wits reading everything from general stories of misery to specific tales involving lingual nerve damage. I have read time and again about all of the soft foods that I have to look forward to.

A little while ago I cancelled my appointment. I won’t get into specifics about why, other than to say I was afraid. However after a lot of thought, and investigation, and prayer…I wound up rescheduling my rendez-vous. Luckily, I was able to get a booking for a few hours later on the same day as my original surgery.

I don’t know if there’ll be a blog post up that day. But if there is, know that it was pre-scheduled.

This morning a car drove by my house. “The Way You Make Me Feel” was blasting on the radio. I couldn’t help but smile…

Last night I was at Starbucks. Several feet away from my friend and I there was a gaggle of young people–probably university students. They were checking their cell phones and Blackberries for the latest…

I’d already heard (read) the news of Michael Jackson’s passing via people’s Facebook comments. But it hadn’t really hit me…

All of a sudden, one of the kids screeched loudly.

…he’s DEAD!?!

If people didn’t know before, they did right then and there…

There was an implied WTF at the end. As in, of all the crazy things you hear about Michael Jackson–and people are used to some pretty crazy ish–his being deceased is the last thing you’d expect.

Indeed, it was for me.

Rest in peace.